Kimberly Bussey Lewis expands workforce training at Goodwill Industries of East Texas

Kimberly Bussey Lewis, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of East Texas, is using more than 25 years of nonprofit and social enterprise experience to expand workforce development in Tyler, Texas. Her leadership centers on training, employment access and preparing workers for a changing economy.

Why it matters: - Goodwill Industries of East Texas is using workforce training to help people move into jobs, build skills and improve household stability. - Lewis’ background in journalism and nonprofit leadership shapes an approach focused on community needs, practical support and long-term employment pathways. - The organization’s mix of training, retail and specialized employment programs gives it multiple ways to connect people with work.

What happened: - Kimberly Bussey Lewis has served as president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of East Texas for more than 13 years. - Lewis brings more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector. - Goodwill Industries of East Texas operates 16 workforce training programs. - The programs include IT training that leads to globally recognized certifications, plus manufacturing, retail and customer service initiatives. - The organization also supports people with disabilities through specialized employment, a manufacturing facility and 15 retail stores.

The details: - Lewis spent 12 years as a journalist at The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, covering community issues. - She later led a nonprofit focused on adult education. - Lewis then served for 10 years as CEO of Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area in West Virginia before moving to East Texas. - Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts with a minor in Communications from the College of Charleston. - Lewis was the first graduate to complete the college’s communications minor. - She earned a Master of Science in Adult Technical Education from Marshall University. - Lewis completed a Certified Executive program through Goodwill Industries International. - Her certifications include life coaching and AI credentials, including Google AI Essentials and a Goodwill Executive AI Course. - Lewis is also a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, international speaker, consultant, executive coach, podcaster, Forbes contributor and LinkedIn advisor. - Her work focuses on leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion. - Her specialties include executive coaching, nonprofit consultation, DEI and workforce training. - Lewis is a Global Good Fund Fellow and serves on the boards of Workability International and The Global Good Fund. - She is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Tyler Executive Women’s Network and Rotary International. - Lewis is active with Love Thy City. - Her other memberships include Eleven Canterbury, Chief, the Della Leaders Club and GLG. - She volunteers with the Good Diz leadership program through the Global Good Fund. - Lewis has also led tablescaping workshops for the Tyler Executive Women’s Network. - Her stated values are compassion, service, continuous learning, equity and inclusion.

Between the lines: - Lewis’ move from journalism to nonprofit leadership suggests a career built around listening for problems and designing practical responses. - Her focus on AI training points to a broader workforce challenge: workers need help adapting as technology changes entry-level and midcareer jobs. - The emphasis on staffing, retention and financial pressure reflects the realities many nonprofits face, even as demand for training and placement services grows.

What's next: - Lewis said Goodwill will keep looking for ways to prepare people for jobs now and in the future. - She is continuing to emphasize workforce training, talent development and employee investment as core responses to nonprofit and labor-market pressures. - Her interest in AI tools suggests more focus ahead on tech-enabled job readiness and future-facing skills.

The bottom line: - Lewis is positioning Goodwill Industries of East Texas as both a job-training engine and a community support system, with workforce development at the center of the mission.

More information: Kimberly Bussey Lewis’s Influential Women profile or her website